Why a loving God spares us from giving too much information

We live in the dawn of the information age. Society is being redefined where information sharing is at our fingertips. What took weeks only a generation ago to share the latest on family and friends, now is shared in an instant. With technology rapidly expanding, it’s too late to call a timeout and evaluate whether its good or bad.

But sometimes you have to wonder if it’s good to have too much information.

I wonder if the virgin Mary pondered this in her heart as she was confronted with the news that she was carrying the Christ child in her womb. She heard the shepherd’s report when they came to visit the child in the manger. Then, three important wise men came bearing timely gifts. And Gabriel’s remarkable visit certainly left a lasting imprint on her mind. I can’t imagine trying to process all of this information while trying to be a new mother, a new wife, and living in a strange land.

But did she really know? A popular song during Christmas asks the question if Mary truly knew what was going to happen to Jesus as the prophet Isaiah foretold. To me, that would be too much information.

Can you imagine being told by a prophet or an angel that a child of yours was going to tragically die in the year 2019? How would you respond? Would you even want to know if given the choice? Would it be easier if you were told that this child’s death would be for a good reason — that many would benefit as a result of their death?

It seems to me that a loving God spares us from giving too much information. He gives us all that we need to know. This not only includes information regarding our salvation, but also in life itself. We simply have to trust Him and take Him at His Word.

So many times in life, people will ask, “Why, God?” in dealing with tragedies in life. I wrote an article a few years ago that dealt with the question, “Why does God allow so much suffering in this world?” Here is an excerpt:

“God is not only good, but He is perfect. He created perfection out of nothing and likened it to his own image. Yet, one act of disobedience created a lasting stain. The perfect became imperfect and unacceptable. And we have suffered the consequences of that one act ever since. Evil persists in this world and sometimes God allows it and sometimes He intervenes. We simply don’t know why or why not. It’s helpful to remember the following truths. First, bad things in life causes great sorrow to God as well. Evil does not come from God nor is it His responsibility. Yet, innocent people still suffer. Second, God is omnipotent and omniscient. He is perfectly objective. Part of our faith is trusting that God knows what He is doing — even when he seems absent. There is a means to an end that defies our logic, but is perfectly logical to God.”

I think Mary knew all that she needed to know and by faith, she responded positively to the will of God. The Lord provided her enough answers to affirm her faith and trust that God knew what He was doing. I can’t imagine that Mary knew that her baby boy was to die a gruesome death and that she was going to witness it. That would be too much information. But God did. In that glorious mystery of the God Incarnate that we can’t even begin to fathom, we recall that Jesus was God’s son too. It was at this point in human history that God became Immanuel to live and to die on our behalf. In birth, God was exalted. In death, God took upon himself the sins of the world. That’s the most important information that anybody can text, tweet, post or email.

I’m grateful that a loving God spares me from giving me too much information, yet like Mary, He lovingly gives me enough information to ponder in my heart that God is God who is in control of all things and I am not. God is far more interested that we simply take him as His Word.

4 Comments on “Why a loving God spares us from giving too much information”

Wonderful post! We are in such information overload and have instant access to information from around the globe. Thankfully our Heavenly Father knows what we need to know and when we need to know it. He reveals things to us in His time; which makes us dependent upon Him.

I agree, – a wonderful thought at Christmas time. I am a bit older (82) and from my perspective there have been the “times of challenge” and “times of rejoicing” all through my life, in big ways and in little ways. Like Ecclesiastes says – a time for everything. But the difference, I feel, is that I know God is in control of all that, and that He loves me (enough to send His only Son to die for my sins) and that He is there to protect me from anything that would harm my membership in “His family” – as an heir of eternal joy with Him in Heaven. So when one senses: “Oh, oh – this is going to be ‘uncomfortable’ – or “I don’t like this”, I think the answer is like you do on a roller coaster ride or driving a race car, – you “buckle up, tight” (that means hold tight to God’s Word! – Use it! Check it! Make it your “compass”) – and then hang on for the ride, – knowing that when it is all over, – even if that “end” is the end of your life, – God is looking out for your good. (Romans 8:28)

Hi Jerry: You have wonderful insight! In John 15:5, Christ tells us to remain in him. Only through him and in him, can we receive peace, security, power and assurance. More importantly, he refocuses our attention on what is eternal than temporal thereby allowing us to get through anything in life. Have a blessed Christmas.